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Feb. 21. 1956 Filed April 15, 1952 O. F. EVERT CARBONATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

' ORVILLE F. EVERT BY ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1956 o. F. EVERT 2,735,720

CARBONATOR Filed April 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V 44 INVENTOR. BIQRVILLE F. EVERT ATTORNEY United States Patent CARBONATOR Orville F. Evert San Francisco, Calif. Application April 15, 1952, Serial No. 282,409 2 Claims. (Cl. 299-420) This invention relates to the impregnating of a liquid with gas, especially the impregnating of water, or other liquid for dispensing at soda fountains, with carbonic acid gas.

Water, or other liquid, is commonly carbonated either by injecting the carbonic acid gas into the liquid or by spraying the liquid into a chamber containing the gas. The present invention relates specifically to means for carrying out the latter method, that is to say, to means for spraying the liquidinto a closed tank filled with the carbonating gas under pressure.

An object of the invention is to provide a carbonator of thetype above indicated in which improved means for spraying the liquid into the tank will insure a high degree of impregnation of the liquid by the gas and a high degree of absorption of the gas by the globules of liquid as they are sprayed into the tank and before they come to rest in the body of liquid in the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for spraying liquid into a particular tank containing gas under pressure which will enable the spray to be diffused efliciently over the entire available area in the tank regardless of the shape of the tank.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved multiple spray nozzle assembly for diffusing liquid spray in a tank, which assembly will be simple and practicalin construction and by which'the sprayed liquid can be discharged simultaneously in a plurality of directions as required in order to cover the area within the tank most etfectively.

These objects and other advantages I have been able to attain by delivering the liquid for carbonating in the tank in the form of a plurality of sprays produced by a nozzle assembly constructed, arranged and positioned as hereinafter explained and described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of carbonating tank showing my invention installed therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the nozzle assembly of Fig. 1, including the nozzle block support ing pipe and assembly head, and drawn to a considerably larger scale; 7

Fig. 4 is a corresponding vertical section of the lower portion of the nozzle assembly employing a double pair of spray heads; and

Fig. 5 is a plan section through a circular carbonating tank showing the nozzle assembly of Fig. 4 employed therein.

In Fig. 1 I show an elongated tank or a cylindrical tank having a horizontal axis, in which water (or other liquid) is carbonated and from which the carbonated water (or other carbonated liquid) is dispensed. Elongated tanks of this general shape are often employed in carbonating devices. Instead, however, of having the water sprayed into the tank from a spray nozzle located in an end of "the tank I position my spray nozzle assem- As shown clearly in Fig. 3, each of the sprayheads 26 2,735,720 Patented Feb. 21, 1956 bly, except in instances where the tank is unusually large or long, approximately at the longitudinal midpoint in the tank. The reason for this will be presently apparent.

The carbonating tank 10 is provided with a central. threaded boss 11 at the top which accommodates a suitable adapter 12, and the head 13 of the nozzle assembly is mounted in the adapter 12 as shown. This head 13 of the nozzle assembly (see also Fig. 2) is formed with a plurality (preferably 4) of channelsleading in from various sides and extending downwardly through the bottom of the head. Suitable nipples or other tube connectors are mounted in the sides of the head to enable tubes, pipes, hoses, etc., to be connected up with these channels respectively. One of these channels 14, the downwardly extending portion of which preferably is located on the axis of the head 13 and which is larger than the other head channels, has a nipple 14 secured therein, and the hose or pipe (not shown) through which the water (or other liquid to be carbonated) is delivered to the carbonator is connected to the nipple 14'. To another nipple 15 the tube from the source of pressurized carbonic acid gas is connected.

When the carbonic acid gas is delivered into the closed tank 10, provision must be made for allowing the air in the tank to be exhausted. Consequently a suitable air exhaust valve (not shown) is connected to nipple 16. A suitable safety or relief valve preferably is connected to the fourth nipple 17 as a precaution against the building up of pressure in the tank 10 in excess of a desired amount. Such connections, or their equivalents, are more or less regulation equipment for carbonators, and such equipment would also include manual and automatic controls for the water (or other liquid) supply line, and a pressure indicator and regulator and a shut off valve for the gas line. These particular elements are not shown in the drawings and need no description since they are well known and do not constitute part of the present invention.

When liquid is carbonated by being sprayed into a tank of gas it is necessary to provide means for maintaining the carbonated liquid at a desired level in the tank, and, in particular, for preventing the level of the liquid in the tank from rising so high as to cover the spray nozzle. A satisfactory means sometimes employed for this purpose, and which I consider more satisfactory than the use of the more common float valves, includes a pair of electrodes, such as those indicated at 18 and 19 in Fig. l, which terminate at different levels in the tank. These electrodes, connected to an electrically-operated control valve in the liquid supply line, cause the valve control to open when the liquid level in the tank drops below the upper electrode and to close when it reaches such upper level, in the well known manner.

In the carrying out of my invention a main pipe 21 (Figs. 1 and 3) has its upper end secured in the head 13 of the nozzle assembly so as to be connected with the water inlet channel 14 of the head. A nozzle block 22 is secured on the lower end of the pipe 21. This nozzle block 22, in the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 3, has a cylindrical main chamber 23 ex tending horizontally through the block, the axis of this main chamber 23 being preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tank vides a passageway for main chamber 23.

The cylindrical wall of the chamber 23 is threaded for a substantial distance inwardly from each end in order to accommodate a pair of spray heads 26 and 27 which are removably and adjustably mounted therein.

the liquid from pipe 21 to the and 27 comprises a neck portion 40, which is threaded 10. An entry channel 24 proexternally, an enlarged outer portion 41, the periphery of which is preferably hexagonal to facilitate the screwing of the head in place and the adjusting of the same, and a conically shaped inner face 42 on the end wall terminating in a central discharging orifice 43.

A flow-directing member 25, comprising a cylindrical body with a spiral rib extending entirely along the member from one end to the other, the major external diameter of which member is slightly less than the internal diameter of the neck portion 40 of the spray heads and consequently less than the diameter of the main chamber 23, is placed in the main chamber 23 with the ends of the flow-directing member positioned in the spray heads respectively, as shown in Fig. 3. The purpose of this flow-directing member 25, as evident, is. to impart to the liquid a whirling motion as the liquid moves from the interior of the chamber 23 towards each end of the chamber, thence out through the central discharging orifices of the spray heads, and also to divide the liquid as it is delivered into the chamber 23 from the channel 24 so as to cause part of the liquid to travel in. each direction.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the nozzle spray assembly is so positioned in the carbonating tank that the discharging orifices of the spray heads will be a short distance (at least 1 to 2 inches) above the maximum liquid level in the tank. When the tank is of elongated cylindrical type shown in Fig. l I find it preferable to establish the maximum level of the liquid about half way between the top and bottom, thus maintaining the tank approximately half full of the carbonated liquid. This enables a sufiicient supply of carbonated liquid generally to be available from the tank and also insures a gas chamber of adequate size into which to spray the liquid to be carbonated. The carbonated liquid is withdrawn from a suitable outlet located in or near the bottom of the tank, such as indicated at 20 in Fig. 1.

With the nozzle assembly in the relative position in the elongated tank illustrated in Fig. l, and with the discharging orifices of the two spray heads 26 and 27 aligned in a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tank, the resulting pair of whirling sprays from the two spray heads effectively come into contact with almost all of the gas in the upper half of the tank and also keep the surface of the liquid agitated in both directions from the central nozzle assembly. The combined result is to enable the moving globules of liquid, either when moving directly from the spray heads or when rebounding from the chamber walls or from the surface of the liquid, to have maximum intcrmingling with the gas so as to become properly impregnated with the gas before coming to rest, and the continued agitation of the surface of the liquid in contact with the gas under pressure also serves to cause the liquid to absorb more and more of the gas in the chamber. One of the difiiculties I have found heretofore when elongated carbonating tanks are used with the customary spray nozzle located at one end of the tank is that the nozzle spray fails to cover the entire area sufiiciently so as to obtain maximum impregnation and to result in the carbonating of a maximum amount of liquid within a minimum amount of time.

In extreme cases, where the carbonating tank is unusually long, it may be advisable to use more than one nozzle assembly of the type shown in Fig. 3. Thus, for example, two such assemblies might be employed, equally spaced from each other and from the corresponding end walls of the tank, but with both assemblies longitudinally aligned in parallelism with the horizontal axis of the tank. However, with elongated carbonating tanks of the size customarily employed in carbonators, a single centrally positioned nozzle assembly I have generally found to be adequate.

Thus far in this description it has been, assumed that the carbonating of the liquid would take place in such an elongated tank or in a cylindrical tank mounted with its axis horizontal. My invention, however, may be employed equally satisfactorily with tanks of various shapes as well as sizes. In Fig. 5 the circular carbonating tank 44 is assumed to have its axis vertical. In some carbonators it is more convenient and space-saving to have a cylindrical carbonating tank positioned with its axis vertical. In such a tank the modified form of my i improved assembly shown in Fig. 4 can be most efiiciently employed.

Referring to Fig. 4 the modified nozzle assembly illustrated in this figure includes a larger nozzle block 28 attached to the lower end of the pipe 21 in place of the nozzle block 22 of Figs. 1 and 3. This nozzle block 28 is formed with two main chambers 29 and 30, both of which extend through the block and which are vertically spaced apart, but the axes of these chambers extend at right angles with respect to each other. The upper chamber 29 is connected with channel of pipe 21 by a channel 31 and a similar channel 32 connects the lower chamber 30 with the upper chamber 29, the channel 32 connecting the longitudinal centers of the bottom and top of the chambers 29 and 30 respectively.

Flow-directing members 33 and 34, similar to the flow-directing member 25 of Fig. 3, are placed in the chambers 29 and 30 respectively. Spray heads 35 and 36, similar to spray heads 26 and 27, are mounted in the respective ends of chamber 29, and similarly identical spray heads 37 and 38 (Fig. 5) are mounted in the ends of chamber 30.

Thus with my nozzle assembly constructed as shown in Fig. 4 the liquid to be carbonated in the tank is delivered in the form of four similar sprays arranged at with respect to each other. By having the pipe 21 and nozzle block 28 centrally positioned in the tank 44, as shown in Fig. 5, it will be apparent that the gas in the space above the liquid in the tank will be thoroughly and efficiently contacted by the globules of sprayed liquid delivered from the nozzle assembly.

Further and minor modifications in the nozzle assembly would be possible without departing from the principle of my invention. It is not my intention to limit my invention otherwise than as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a carbonating tank of the character described, a nozzle block, a central vertical, liquid-delivering passageway extending downwardly into said block, a cylindrical channel extending horizontally through said block, said passageway leading into said cylindrical channel, the wall of said channel being threaded at its extremities, a pair of threaded identical spray heads removably mounted in the ends of said channel respectively, each of said spray heads having a major internal diameter portion at its inner end and an outer portion of constantly decreasing internal diameter, a discharging orifice of relatively small diameter at the outer extremity of each spray head, said orifices positioned axially with respect to'said channel, and a cylindrical, flow-directing member in said channel, the ends of said flow-directing member resting in said spray heads respectively, a spiral rib extending over the cylindrical surface of said member from one end to the other, the outside diameter of said spiral rib being approximately equal to the major internal diameter portions of said spray heads, whereby liquid under pressure reaching said channel from said passageway will encounter the middle portion of said member and will be divided and directed by said member in opposite spiral paths into said spray heads respectively.

2. In a carbonating tank of the character described, a nozzle block, a central vertical, liquid-delivering passageway extending downwardly into said block, a cylindrical channel extending horizontally through said block, said passageway terminating at said cylindrical channel, the wall of said channel being threaded at its extremities, a pair of threaded identical spray heads removably mounted in the ends of said channel respectively, each of said spray heads having a major internal diameter portion at its inner end and an outer portion of constantly decreasing internal diameter, a discharging orifice of relatively small diameter at the outer extremity of each spray head, said orifices positioned axially with respect to said channel, a cylindrical, flow-directing member in said channel, the ends of said flow-directing member resting in said spray heads respectively, a spiral rib extending over the cylindrical surface of said member from one end to the other, the outside diameter of said spiral rib being approximately equal to the major internal diameter portions of said spray heads, a second cylindrical channel extending horizontally through said block a short distance above said first mentioned channel and intersecting said vertical passageway, the axis of said second channel extending in a direction normal to the direction in which the axis of said first mentioned channel extends, a pair of spray heads, similar to said first mentioned spray heads, similarly mounted in the respective ends of said second channel and a cylindrical, flow-directing member, similar to said first mentioned flow-directing member, mounted in said second channel with its end supported in said second mentioned pair of spray heads respectively, whereby liquid under pressure reaching said channels from said passageway will encounter the middle portions of said flow-directing members and be directed in spiral paths into said spray heads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,377,756 Desmond May 10, 1921 2,092,519 McLean Sept. 7, 1937 2,098,136 Dyckerhofi Nov. 2, 1937 2,213,928 Gold et a1. Sept. 3, 1940 2,388,850 Kantor Nov. 13, 1945 2,438,714 McMillan Mar. 30, 1948 2,484,577 Murphy Oct. 11, 1949 2,514,463 Bayers July 11, 1950 2,577,550 Wahlin Dec. 4, 1951 

1. IN A CARBONATING TANK OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A NOZZLE BLOCK, A CENTRAL VERTICAL, LIQUID-DELIVERING PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID BLOCK, A CYLINDRICAL CHANNEL EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY THROUGH SAID BLOCK, SAID PASSAGEWAY LEADING INTO SAID CYLINDRICAL CHANNEL, THE WALL OF SAID CHANNEL BEING THREADED AT ITS EXTREMITIES, A PAIR OF THREADED IDENTICAL SPRAY HEADS REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN THE ENDS OF SAID CHANNEL RESPECTIVELY, EACH OF SAID SPRAY HEADS HAVING A MAJOR INTERNAL DIAMETER PORTION AT ITS INNER END AND AN OUTER PORTION OF CONSTANTLY DECREASING INTERNAL DIAMETER, A DISCHARGING ORIFICE OF RELATIVELY SMALL DIAMETER AT THE OUTER EXTREMITY OF EACH SPRAY HEAD, SAID ORIFICES POSITIONED AXIALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID CHANNEL, AND A CYLINDRICAL, FLOW-DIRECTING MEMBER IN SAID CHANNEL, THE ENDS OF SAID FLOW-DIRECTING MEMBERS RESTING IN SAID SPRAY HEADS RESPECTIVELY, A SPIRAL RIB EXTENDING OVER THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF SAID MEMBER FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER, THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID SPIRAL RIB BEING APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO THE MAJOR INTERNAL DIAMETER PORTIONS OF SAID SPRAY HEADS, WHEREBY LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE REACHING SAID CHANNEL FROM SAID PASSAGEWAY WILL ENCOUNTER THE MIDDLE PORTION OF SAID MEMBER AND WILL BE DIVIDED AND DIRECTED BY SAID MEMBER IN OPPOSITE SPIRAL PATHS INTO SAID SPRAY HEADS RESPECTIVELY. 